BRITISH BIRDS. I 55 



wing-coverts tipped with dull white, and secondaries 

 margined with same ; below paler and more distinctly 

 barred. In summer male has white parts of plumage 

 heavily mottled with black. 



Breeds locally from Fame Islands northward to Ork- 

 neys, also in the Shetlands and Hebrides. Common on 

 east side of England during winter. In Ireland only 

 fifteen examples have been taken. Eggs : 5 or 6 ; pale 

 greyish-green ; 3*05 by 2*00. 



237. Somateria speetabilis (Linn.). KING EIDER. 



Hab. Circumpolar regions. In winter southward. 



Seven or eight have occurred at the Fame Islands, one 

 in Yorkshire, and two recently in Norfolk ; it has been 

 reported at irregular intervals from the Orkneys and 

 Shetlands and several parts of Scotland, while in Ireland 

 six have been obtained. 



GENUS CXXIX. CEDEMIA, Fleming (1822). 

 Bill large, much swollen at base of upper mandible and 

 depressed towards tip ; laminae considerably developed. 



238. CEdemia nigra (Linn.). COMMON SCOTER. 



Hab. Northern Palasarctic region. 



Male : black, glossed with green and purple above ; 

 bill black, with a yellow patch down centre of culmen ; 

 iris dark brown ; feet brownish-black, webs black. Length 

 19*50. Female : duller and with a brown tinge ; chin dull 

 white ; sides of head greyish-brown ; bill with " knob " 

 nearly absent. Length 18*50. Young: like female, but 

 with throat whitish and under parts mottled with same. 



Breeds in many localities in the north of the Scottish 

 mainland, and is a common winter visitor to the rest of our 

 coasts. Eggs : 6 to 8 ; buffish-white or light stone -colour ; 

 2-50 by 175. 



